First Trip to the ZOO!!

The last couple weeks have been excellent!! We have had a busier schedule than normal (meaning...not staying at home every day/weekend : ) It has actually been nice and the boys have thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

This past weekend we went to St. Louis for Cardinal Glennon's NICU reunion. It was SO wonderful! We got to see several of Carson's favorite nurses and several of the doctors as well! The boys played in bubbles, got balloon dogs, Kellen got his face painted, and both of them enjoyed the balloon release. I think the doctors and nurses also really enjoy the event because they get to see the tiny little miracles they helped, grow up. So many people commented on how well the boys were doing and how good Carson looked! As we all know, by know, Carson is nothing short of a miracle but it is always a good remember to REALLY think about how far he has come.

The 'reunion' was followed by a day AT Cardinal Glennon for some follow up appointments. Carson saw the cardiologist, had an echocardiogram, and also saw his 'thyroid doctor.' His cardiologist hadn't seen him since BEFORE the teratoma was removed and couldn't believe how good he looked! He wants to do one more echo in a year but didn't see anything concerning and said that the PFO's (holes in his heart) had closed. Carson's endocrinologist ('thyroid doctor') said 'he looked like a million bucks!' After the appointments, we went to the zoo for a couple hours. The boys had a blast, despite the fact that it was during naptime and they were clearly tired! I think the hippos stole the show by swimming right in front of Carson and Kellen. The adults all had fun too (Nana, Aunt RaRa, and Cindy, a good friend, were able to join us)!

Carson has continued to do well with eating the past several weeks. Some days are more outstanding than others but still so much better than before! We have also ventured to 'Story Hour' at the Library a couple times, we went to Columbia two weekends ago for the 'Tough Mudder' event, experienced the Stoddard County Fair, and Big Truck night. Have I said how wonderful it is to feel like I have two 'NORMAL' kids : ) that get to do NORMAL things (things that don't involve pokes, hospitals, surgeries, etc.)

Speaking of surgeries...next Wednesday (October 2nd), Carson will have his next surgery in Cincinnati. They are planning to do a supraglottalplasty (altering/reshaping his epiglottis). This is the same surgery that was planned, but stopped, in July. I'm a little more anxious than normal about this surgery because of the result last time, but I'm praying for the surgeons and medical staff and I KNOW the Great Physician will have his hand over them. Please also be praying for a quick recovery...we have a big event October 12th --- Aunt RaRa and Uncle Em's wedding! And Carson and Kellen have a big job in it! ; ) Anxious to have the surgery behind us and we can focus on the fun stuff again!

As Jesus Calling said, yesterday..."Pour all of your energy into trusting Me. It is through trust that you stay connected to Me, aware of My Presence."

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3
I am EXPECTING miracles, once again! As always, thanks for your prayers!

We found some cute pirates at their first "Story Hour"

Electrician and Firefighter hats from the 'Big Truck' Night

Carson smiling at our favorite Ms. Robin after eating almost 1/2 jar of baby food! : )

NICU Reunion with Carson and Kellen's primary nurse Christi! LOVE HER!

Finding some shade by the pond!

Carson's two primary nurses, Beth and Christi! We were so blessed! And Carson and Kellen got to meet a future girlfriend : )

Another miracle child! It was wonderful to get to meet him, his mom was at the Ronald McDonald House when we were there! Another amazing story!

They are growing up so fast!

My all time favorite doctor - Dr. Vlastos! He delivered the boys!

Kellen sat SO still while they painted his face : ) He was so excited!

Waiting in the doctor's office! Carson did so well!

At the ZOO!

Checking out the zebras

...and the sea lions

All in perspective!

We've had some exciting new changes the past couple weeks...Carson is eating!!!!

Ok, ok...when I say eating...I mean taking bites, that aren't just little tastes or licks, but actual bites, and multiple bites! I wanted to do a post last week, when the big news was that Carson had eaten ONE Tablespoon of baby food (with 1/2 T. of juice to thin it down) between three settings! This was huge! I know that one tablespoon doesn't seem like alot. I mean, I can eat that in one bite easily, but for Carson, that is HUGE!

Well, Carson didn't stop there...the last couple days, he has eaten 1-2 Tablespoons at EACH setting (and we aren't thinning the food down at all!). This morning, I was marveling at Carson and Kellen, we all sat down...Kellen was eating french toast and Carson was taking REAL sized bites of yogurt. It felt SO normal : ) Isn't NORMAL just so wonderful! I'm just so proud of Carson! When you give him a bite, there is no trying to distract him or trying to get him to open his mouth, no gagging afterwards (at least not all the time). He just opens his mouth, takes the bite, then moves his tongue to organize the food, and swallows! AMAZING! I definitely have a different view of eating now...it truly is amazing all that goes in to taking a single bite (most of which we never even think of consciously!) This is really a big step for Carson! He still needs his tube feedings to get the nutrition he needs but it is so wonderful to see him eating...praying that it continues!

Now, for Kellen...he is eating like a champ! He had a full piece of meatloaf last night, along with fried potatoes. This morning, he ate one and a half pieces of French toast. I LOVE it!!! He also mastered going up the ladder and down the slide by himself this week : ) He did it over and over and over! Such a busy little man!

Thank you for the continued prayers! We are awaiting Carson's next surgery October 2nd, in Cincinnati.

Here are some pictures from the last couple weeks (including some pictures of our new home!)

They had so much fun playing ping pong!

Can you hear the laughter?!?

my LOVE!

Boys and their toys (or maybe some little girls' toys)  ; )

Group photo time...yeah right!

We will have a basement!! YAY!

Carson just thought the chalk lines needed to be adjusted a little : )

Kellen is checking out the plumbing!

We have stairs!!

One of my favorites!

Checking out the BIG backyard!

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 

 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Yellow Butterfly

I just had to share this...I very special blessing from my Grandma Hermesch.

First, let me give you some history...TODAY, is the 2nd anniversary of my Grandma going home to heaven. Shortly after my Grandma passed, a very good friend of hers asked for Grandma to send her a 'sign' that she was in heaven. This friend asked for a very specific sign...a butterfly...and she asked even more specifically, for a yellow butterfly (Grandma's favorite color). That night, her husband (unbeknownst to his wife's request) brought in a butterfly to show her. You guessed it, it was a YELLOW butterfly.

So here is my story...the boys and I went out to play this morning (nothing unusual, we do this every morning). We did our usual, ate a snack in the shade on the back porch, took a walk around the neighborhood, played in the rocks, and were just about to go in but I remembered to water the flowers on the front porch. So, we got the watering pot and were filling it up when I happen to look up and a yellow butterfly lands just a few feet away. I point it out to the boys..."Look, it's a yellow butter...(it hits me) it's a YELLOW BUTTERFLY." A sign from Grandma on her "going home to heaven" anniversary...I was impressed that I even put this all together because I'm not one that really remembers to look for these type of things : ) The really neat part, that was the FIRST butterfly I have seen this summer! And even more special... as we were standing there, the little butterfly started flying a figure eight right around the boys...circling them! I felt like Grandma was giving them a special blessing from above! This went on for awhile... I called Mom to tell her Grandma said 'hi' : ) and then thought to get a video. (I tried to attach the video clip, but I can never get it to work...uggh!)


It was such a beautiful way to begin our day!

Next surgery

Okay, well I heard from Cincinnati the end of last week (they were very prompt in getting back with us). They agreed that the MRI looked good so we are going to 'go forward.' This means we will be going back to have the same surgery done that they planned originally for July 31st. Yes, a little...okay 'a lotta' frustrating but I guess I should be thankful that the MRI didn't show anything unexpected. So...we have now rescheduled the supraglottoplasty for October 2nd. That was the first available and the best date we could find given Sarah's upcoming wedding : ) Please be praying the ring bearer recovers quickly and is up to par for his debut!!

On another note, we have another prayer request...never lacking for prayer topics : ) Our main night nurse that has been with us for awhile now, told us that she is taking a different job. So, this is her last week. There is another lady that has said she would take a couple extra nights but that still leaves several nights empty. Please be praying that we/they find another good nurse, so Preston can continue to get decent sleep at night. Thank you!

Here are some pictures from the last month or so. The boys are doing well (except the puking has picked up again). They are SO much fun and love playing together, laughing, mimicking one another, hugging/tackling, going for walks (now they want to actually walk sometimes - man, they are getting big)!

Morning cheesers!!

Picnic with Dad!

This was a big moment for us...first time the boys rode in back WITHOUT me in between them. Yes, its the small things : ) We only went about 5 miles down the rode but it felt great to sit in the front seat!

The boys LOVED the unusually wet August...more puddles!

Trying out 'froggie potty'...no success yet!

No success here either...not yet at least.

Who knows what they are up to : )

Just chillin'

Daddy's big helper

Morning walks are the best!

A good day!

Our day went better than I even expected...thank you all SO MUCH for the prayers! We woke up at 2:30 am to pouring down rain and lightning and thunder! Well, we got ourselves together and from the time I took the first load out to the car (which wasn't in the garage) to the time I carried Carson out (less than 10 minutes), it went from the pouring rain to no rain at all. (Answered prayer #1).

Carson went back to sleep within 15 minutes and slept all the way to Cardinal Glennon (Answered prayer #2).

When we arrived, I asked the nurses about changing his trach out to the MRI safe trach AFTER sedation...they responded with, "That isn't what we typically do (with a list of reasons following) but I don't care to ask." So we continued on with the registration process. Long story short, not only did the anesthesiologist say he would wait until after he was sedated to change the trach, but they also allowed me to hold Carson while they gave him the anesthesia gas. (Answered prayer #3 with a HUGE BONUS hug : )

The MRI took approximately an hour and a half but they said it went well. While Carson was recovering, the nurse informed us that a radiologist would be down shortly, he had actually already read the scan and could tell us what he saw. Great News...he said, he did not see any evidence of residual teratoma, just something that looked like scar tissue. (Answered prayer #4) I didn't really have any concern about this but it was very nice to have that reassurance.

We stopped by the NICU on the way out and got to see BOTH of Carson's primary day nurses, as well as a couple of the other nurses that took care of him occasionally. (A wonderful, unexpected blessing!)

We also made it home without any puking, and Carson slept a portion of the way. (Answered prayer #5)

So, the MRI report is being faxed to Cincinnati and a hard copy of the MRI is being mailed. I am hoping Cincinnati will get all this information by the end of the week and we will hear something next week, in terms of their reading of the MRI and the next step. I am just really praying now that the surgeons from Cincinnati can get the information they need/want from this MRI.

Love to all!

MRI is scheduled!

I scheduled Carson's MRI yesterday. It will be a week from Monday (Aug 12th) at 7 am in the morning. So, we have to be there by 5:45 am and will have to leave our house around 3 am. Praying for a good morning, that they get all the needed pictures, and that the doctors are able to correctly diagnose what they are seeing. Also, please be praying...we have to change Carson's trach out before the MRI (because it can't have any metal in it). I'm hoping that they can sedate him before changing his trach, to save him so much unneeded anxiety. I won't find out until that morning though. Thank you all!

One of my favorite pictures ever!

I can't post pictures from my phone to the blog but I wanted to pass this picture along...this was in preop yesterday before we took Carson back to the OR. Now, that smile can make any minute of any day brighter : ) You can't help but LOVE LOVE LOVE this strong little fighter! No worries there.